Vikings show support to Rams fans as NFL monitors California wildfires ahead of playoff game
MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Vikings organization is showing support to Los Angeles Rams fans as wildfires rage in the Los Angeles area.
"We're thinking of our Rams friends, their community and the first responders during this time," the team wrote on X early Wednesday afternoon. It was in response to a similar message shared by the Rams.
The team is scheduled to play the Rams at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California on Monday night in the first round of the NFL playoffs.
According to the NFL, the league is keeping an eye on the wildfires in the area. So far, there has been no indication that the playoff game will be relocated or rescheduled.
"The NFL continues to closely monitor developments in the area and will remain in contact with both clubs and the NFLPA," the league said.
The NFL said in a statement they do have a contingency plan for Monday's game. The Vikings will take on the Rams at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona if they need to change locations.
At least five people are dead and thousands are being evacuated as blazes closed in on Los Angeles neighborhoods like the Pacific Palisades and residents hurried to escape. Maps of the region show where the Palisades Fire, Eaton Fire and others are engulfing tens of thousands of acres of land.
Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell, who grew up in southern California, said he's experienced wildfires before but "this one does feel different."
"The impact that this has on people. And it's not — the worst aspect of it are the folks that for, starting off, the lives that have been lost," O'Connell said. "And then you think about people that lose a lifetime of memories and things and a home that they've in many cases built their families. But there's also a lot of people who have been evacuated that are trying to basically make sense of all this during this time. There's just so many people impacted."
O'Connell, who was the Rams' offensive coordinator under head coach Sean McVay when Los Angeles won Super Bowl LVI, said he's talked with his former boss about the situation.
"You know, there's really no words you can say other than you're thinking about them, praying for them and just hoping that things start to turn here," O'Connell said.